Adjustable blind or screen



Mar .v

L. K L

. OEHR ADJUS TABLE BLIND OR SCREEN ne 6, 193 6 s ats s eat 1 l|IIIllfllllllllllllIlIHllllllll .llllllllllllllllllllllIlllllllll llllllllllllllllllflllllllll INVENTOR.

March 8, 1938. L. K. LOEHR ADJUSTABLE BLIND OR SCREEN 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 if r a? E Filed June 6, 1936 INVENTOR.

86m; 0e/u March 8, 1938. LOEHR 2,110,145

ADJUSTABLE BLIND OR SCREEN Filed June 6, 1936 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR,

A ORNEY.

March 8 1938; LQEHR 2,110,145

ADJUSTABLE BLIND OR SCREEN Filed June 6, 1936 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 4050 z r H 37 \1 y E 5 -"Wm 9 w ,1 v '(O --i r 4 44 an i mi A 4 m 1% fiTl 26 h 26 M l INVENTOR. M alks/lie /6I .Coe/zr ATTORNEY.

March 8, 1938. L. K. LOEHR ADJUSTABLE BLIND OR SCREEN Filed June 6, 1936 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

(Leslie /6. Lowe/w A ORNEY.

March 8, 1938. L. K. LOEHR ADJUSTABLE BLIND OR SCREEN 6 Sheets-Sheei e I Filed June 6, 1936 INVENTOR/ the slats orshutters of-v-the blind,

Patented Mar. 8, 1938 0B SCREEN Application June 6, 1936, Serial No. 83,986

The present invention relates to adjustable blinds or screens, and more particularly to that type of flexible screen employing adjustable shutters generally known as Venetian blinds.

Devices of this character which are collapsible and embody tiltable slats or shutters to control the transmission of light and/or heat therethrough have achieved wide commercial acceptance, but their general use has been limited by their high cost and their comparatively unattractive appearance except when used in conjunction with suitable draperies such as glass curtains to soften their cold and harsh appearance. Moreover, such devices as now manufactured are in general heavy and diflicult to install and remove for cleaning, and embody comparatively bulky and awkward appearing operating mechanism.

It is .an object of the present invention to provide a. shutter-type or Venetian blind which is simple in construction, eflicient in operation and pleasing in design. I

It is another object to provide such a device which is so constructed as to permit the use of .more economical materials and arrangements.

It is a further object to provide such a device which may be quickly and easily installed, and can be readily taken down for cleaning and replaced.

It is another object to provide such a device which lends itself to a wide variety of decorative and artistic efiects and adaptations.

It is another object to provide such a device which c mbines the structure and functions of shutterpe blinds with draperies preferably of transluc gtunature.

It is a ther object to provide such a device which may furthermore be arranged to perform the function of a screen closure for openings into or overwhich it may be fitted.

It is a further object to provide such a device which maysimultaneously embody the characteristics of a curtain, a blind and a screen, the corresponding functions of which are readily variable to secure desired results.

Further objects.and advantages will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:, V Fig.v 1 is a perspective view, of one preferred embodiment of the invention as applied to a conventional form of window;

.Figs. 2,3,4, and 5 are fragmentary details in perspective, showing on an enlarged scale various optional methods 'of forming and incorporating Fig. 6 is a side elevation partly in section and partly broken away of a blind em ying the present invention, illustrating a preferred form of mounting and folding or collapsing mechanism for the blind. 5

Fig. 7 is an end view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 6, certain of the parts being broken away for the sake of clarity;

Fig. 8 is a detail of the mounting bracket and tilting mechanism; 10

Fig. 9 is an end view of the same with the parts partially broken away for the sake of clar- Fig. 10 is a detail in perspective of a portion of the header bar and operating mechanism, showing the method of mounting and operating the shutters; a

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary detail of the mounting elements fora shutter, the parts being in disassembled relation; 20

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention applied as a fire screen in front of a fireplace; V

Fig. 13 is an enlarged detail in perspective, illustrating the method of attaching the header bar and shutters illustrated in Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a pe p ctive view of an embodiment of the invention used as a screen closure for a window;

Fig. 15 is an enlarged detail in perspective of 30 the operating means for the structure illustrated in Fig. 14, parts being broken away for clarity;

Fig. 16 is a similardetail of the anchoring and supporting means for the bottom of the screen illustrated in Fig. 14; 3

Fig. 17 is an enlarged vertical section of the structure shown .in Fig. 14, showing particularly the clamping and mounting means for the screen and l j Fig. 18 is an enlarged detail in perspectiveof a 40 portion of the mounting track forthe edge of, the screen. Y

7 Referring first to Fig. 1 of the drawings, there is illustrated a conventional type of window comprising a top molding I, side moldings 2 and sill 3. 45

- According to the present invention, a drapery or for the blind is attached in any suitable way as illustrated at 5 in Fig. 7 to a horizontal header bar 6 which is pivotally mounted as by means of hollow trunnions I (Fig. 6) journalled in end brackets 8 and 9' fixed to the side moldings 2 (Fig. 1) of the window. A base or weight bar II is attached as indicated at I2 (Fig. 7) to the bottom of the curtain in parallel relation to the header bar 6, and a series of shutters l3 are hingedly connected to the curtain as indicated at 14 at one edge thereof, and are pivotally connected as by means of links l5 and fasteners [6 to vertical straps or tapes ll fastened at their ends to the header bar 6 and base bar II as indicated at I8 and I9 respectively. The shutters I3 are maintained at all times parallel to the header and base bars by means of their continuous connection at l4 along one edge to the curtain, and are caused to tilt with the header bar by virtue of the connections to the tapes IT. The shutters are vertically-spaced a distance slightly less than their width so that when they are tilted to a maximum degree, they completely prevent the transmission of light through the blind.

The shutter [3 may be detachably connected tothe curtain as shown in Fig. 11 by sewing a set of tapes- I! to the curtain 4 and connecting the grommets 43 to the tapes by links l5 and fasteners 16'. In this case, however, the advan..

tage of a continuous connection between the curtain and the edge of the shutter is sacrificed, and it is therefore necessary to use a heavier and stirrer shutter as in the conventional type of Venetian blind. Y

Means for manually tilting the header bar 6 is provided in the form of a suitable cord. 2! (Fig. 9) fastened at its ends near the opposite edges of the header bar as illustrated at 221 and 23, and means are provided for yieldably maintaining the pivotal adjustment of the header bar in the form of a spring detent 24 suitably fixed as at 25 to the mounting bracket 9 and arranged to engage the periphery of an arcuate scalloped plate 26 fixed as at 21 to theheader bar.

Means are provided for folding or collapsing the blind by raising the base bar I I thereof inthe form of a cord 28 (Fig. 6) having its ends suitably attached as indicated at 2'9 and 3| to the base bar II and extending upwardly therefrom through the shutters l3 over the rollers 32 and 33 in the header bar and through the hollow trunnion l. The loop of the rope 28 passes over a fair-leader 34 journalled in the bracket 8 and downwardly therefrom into convenient position for manual operation as indicated at 3.5. An automatic brake or clamping device for the cord is preferably provided'in the form of a curved wedging device 36 pivoted at 31 in the bracket 8 in position for the roughened portion 39 thereof to wedge the cord against the face of the bracket 8. The loop 35 of the cord traverses an opening 4| of the brake member 36 whereby drawing the loop to the right, as illustrated in Fig. 6, wi1l release the brake and permit free movement of the cord; whereas when the cord is let go or moved to the left, the brake will become effective to retain the cord in adjusted position. A ring 52 is preferably clamped on the loop 35in order to insure equal motion of both strands thereof, thereby maintaining the horizontal position of the base bar ll.

The internal arrangemerit of the cord 28 is best illustrated in Fig. 10 which showsthe cord traversing the grommet or mounting nipple 430i a shutter and traversing a channel 44 in the header shutters or slats which may be used for control- I ling the transmission of light through the curtain or screen. 'In Fig. 2, the body of the cur tain or screen 4 is woven so as to form loops 46 therein for retaining a slat I3 of thin wood, cardboard or any other suitable material. As illustrated, these loops 46 are formed by holding out of the weave every other thread of the warp while the loop is made, the weft threads 68 continuing in the loop the same as in the body of the curtain or screen. In Fig. 3 the loop 49 in the curtain is formed simply by sewing together or otherwise suitably attaching the edges of the loop. In Fig. 4 a loop 5| of the curtain is impregnated with suitable opaque or semi-opaque plastic material 52 which when hardened forms a shutter or slat. In Fig. 5 a similar result is secured by covering a loop 53 of the curtain with adhesive material 54 adapted to impart sufiicient stifiness and opacity thereto to perform its desired function.

In Figs. 12m 13 a fire screen constructed according to the present invention is used to cover the opening ofa fireplace 55. As there shown, a curtain or screen 56 of woven loops of metallic wire or other suitable material is attached to a header bar 51 in the form of a metallic channel member, preferably being laced to one edge 58 thereof as indicated at 59. Slats 6i of steel or other suitable material are la'ced to the screen at intervals as indicated at 62 parallel to the header bar, and a base bar 63 is similarly attached to the bottom of the curtain. The bars and slats are maintained in parallelism by means of flexible metallic tapes 64 in the form of chains or any other suitable arrangement, and a manually operable chain 65 is provided forraising and lowering the screen in the same manner as the cord 28 previously described, so that a separate description thereof is deemed unnecessary.

Inasmuch as the headerbar 51 is at such height as to be readily tiltable manually, a cord attachment for that purpose is not needed. It is therefore only necessary to provide a detent operating similarly to the detent 24 of Fig. 9 to maintain the header bar 51 in adjusted position.

Referring now to Fig. 14 of the drawings, there is illustrated an embodiment of the invention which combines the fimctions of a. curtain, blind and screen closure for an opening. As here shown, the body 66 of the device is formed of suitable material such as wire screen of proper mesh to perform the desired function. This screen is attached to the top of the window in any suitable manner to make a tight joint therewith. As shown in Fig. 17, this is accomplished by forming a. loop 61 in the end of the screen 66 and inserting it in the opening 68 of a channel member 69 fixed at the top of the window; the

loop being retained therein as by means of a rod ered. The amount of light to be permitted to clamping means in the form of bolts I8 engaging blocks 18 slidably mounted in the tracks 15.

A header bar 8| (Fig. is suitably hinged to the moldings of the window as by means of brackets 82 supporting pins 83 in the header bar, and shutter members 84 of any suitable character, are hinged at one edge as at 85 to the screen in any preferred manner in parallel relation to the header bar.

Flexible tapes 86 are attached to the header bar and pivoted to the slats or shutter members to maintain the parallelism thereof. Means for tilting the header bar is provided in the form of a cord 81 attached as by means of a pin 88 to the free edge of the header bar 8| and arranged to be wound on a rotary shaft 89 iournalled as indicated at 9| in the top molding I of the window and provided with an operating wheel 92 actuated by a suitable cord 83. Means for locking the shaft in adjusted position may be provided if necessary, but ordinarily the friction of the journal bearings 8l-will be suflicient to retain the shutters in adjusted position.

Means for raising or lowering the screen when desired are provided in the form of cords 84 attached to the bottom shutter member 84' (Fig. 16) which is hinged by means of a double hinge 88 to the base bar 11. Cords 84 traverse the shutters 84, passing over pulleys 85 and passing through the upper molding l of the window. The loop 8! of the cords passes over a fair-leader 88 journalled in a bracket 99 fixed to the molding I and depends therefrom in suitable position for manual actuation.

The operation of the various embodiments of the invention is believed to be in general clear from the foregoing description. In the embodiment shown in Fig. l, the height of the curtain is adjusted by pulling or releasing the loop 35 of cord 28 whereby the base bar H is raised or lowtraverse the blind is regulated by tilting the slats h or shutters I3 by means of the cord 2| to secure any desired degree of illumination.

In the fire screen illustrated in Figs. 12 and 13,

the slats or shutters l3 may be tilted to permit 7 the radiant energy to pass directly through the screen or to be deflected upwardly or downward- 1y merely by suitable manipulation of the header bar 51, whereas the screen may be raised or lowered by means of chain 85.

The screen illustrated in Figs. 14 to 18 inclusive is normally maintained tight by clamping the'base bar 11 down against the sill 3, and the amount of light transmitted through the screen is then regulated by tilting the slats 84 by means of the cord 93. If it is desired to open the screen to raise or close the window for instance, it is merely necessary to loosen the bolts 18, whereupon the screen may be raised by pulling the loop 91 of cords 84. Attention is called to the fact that the guide pins 13 for the edges of the screen other purposes the blinds illustrated in Figs. 1 to 13 inclusive, it is merely. necessary to dismount the header bars thereof from their supporting brackets. The screen-blind illustrated in Figs.

14 to 18 is almost as readily removable since it is merely necessary to loosen the bolts 18 holding the base bar 11 and slide out the rod 'H holding 3 the top of the screen in position. The screen may thereupon be slid down, the pins 13. emerging from the bottoms of the tracks 15 through the openings I80 therein (Fig. 18).

It will readily be appreciated that the curtain or screen forming the body portion of the blind may be formed of material having any desired decorative and artistic qualities. It is further to be noted that inasmuch as this body portion is transparent or translucent, the shutters back of the body portion are more or less visible therethrough and they may accordingly also be designed and colored to produce any desired decorative efl'ects in conjunction with the drapery formed by the body of the blind.

Although certain embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail, it will be understood that other embodiments are possible and that various changes may be made in the design and arrangements of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

, l. A shutter type blind including an open mesh fabric curtain. a plurality of shutter elements, attaching members therefor comprising grommets fixed therein, means for detachably hinging said grommets to the curtain, and retractable means traversing said grommets and attached to the lowermost shutter element for progressively raising and collapsing said blind.

2. A combined curtain, blind and screen for an opening such as a window, comprising a sheet of foraminous material, means for detachably securing the edges of said sheet to the boundaries of said opening, and a series of shuters hinged at one edge to said sheet in parallel relation.

3. A combined curtain, blind and screen for an opening such as a window, comprising a sheet of flexible foraminous material, a series of shutters hinged at one edge to said sheet, means for detachably securing the top and bottom of said sheet to the corresponding boundaries of the opening, and means for pivotally and slidably securing the sides of said sheet to the side bound-- aries of the opening with the axes of the pivots aligned with the pivotal axes of the shutters.

4. In a shutter type blind a. header bar, a curtain dependent therefrom, a series of shutters hinged to said curtain parallel to the header bar, a base bar at the bottom of the curtain, means including a hollow trunnion for pivotally supporting said header bar, and manually movable means traversing said trunnion and dependent from said header bar, passing through said shutters and attached to the base bar for raising and lowering the base bar.

5. A spark arrester and heat deflector including a tiltable header bar, a laced wire screen dependent therefrom, fire resisting shutters laced to said screen in spaced relation parallel to said header, and means for collapsing the screen.

6. Adjustable means for controlling the transmission of light and heat including a loosely woven curtain, a series of shutters hinged at one edge thereto through their length, and means for simultaneously adjusting the inclination of the shutters to the curtain while maintaining constant the overall length of the curtain.

7. In a combined curtain and shutter type blind, a flexible foraminous curtain having parallel loops formed therein dependent at one edge therefrom, and means for stiffening said loops and controlling the transmission of light through said loops.

8. In a combined curtain and shutter type blind, a loosely woven i'oraminous screen having parallel tubular loops formed therein and laterally dependent from the body of the screen, and flat strips of light-obstructing material travers- I ing said loops and continuously hinged thereby at one edge to the screen.

9. In a. shutter type blind, a flexible loosely woven ioraminous curtain having spaced parallel loops formed therein dependent at one edge therefrom, said loops being flattened and coated with light-controlling stiffening material.

10. In a combined drapery and blind, a loosely on the outward side thereof and continuously 1o hinged thereto in parallel spaced relation.

' LESLIE K. 1.0mm. 

